EDG 7/8/10 x42 still in production? (2 Viewers)

[Bentley03]

Glad to hear you have the 7x42 UVHD+, certainly that fills that niche. I've been very interested in that bin myself but the price (saw one for $1,100 but that's rare) and lack of transferrable warranty have been hindrances. It also has a smallish FOV for a 7x42 (7.4*) vs. the 7x42 EDG's 8.0*.

Here's what Tobias Meenie (greatest binoculars.com) had to say about the 3-D perception in the 8x and 7x42 EDGs:

3D high fidelity
Please check this article on the issue of 3D high fidelity and the curse of flat field for a thorough discussion. Because, just as in the Swarovision, here comes one price to pay for the flat field. Despite superb contrast, images render space in a flat, compressed way, although not quite as flat as the Swarovision. The Ultravid 8x32 HD Plus - which has exactly the same stereo base as the EDG - blows the Nikon away in 3D rendering of space. Ouch, that really hurts in direct comparison.

It was even more painful to compare the 7x42 EDG to the Leica Ultravid HD Plus 7x42. The Leica drags you into a deep, naturally rendered space, while the Nikon flattens out everything. As my friend J. put it: With the Leica every branch is where it is supposed to be, whereas with the Nikon you are guessing what the branches postitions are...

Here's the rest of his review of the 8x42 EDG, which is what spurred me to buy it. I felt pretty much as he did in his review about the 8x42 EDG except the ergonomics, which he liked but didn't work for my hands:

greatestbinoculars: Nikon EDG 8x42 review

Brock

Brock, my 7x42 UVHD+ is my absolute favourite binocular amongst all of those that I've ever owned or tried. But, of course, that is a purely subjective opinion. If the eye relief of the 10x42 UVHD+ weren't just a smidge too marginal for complete comfort with my glasses, I believe they would be my second favourite and I would not have bought the EDG. 😉😇

 

[Bentley03]

I forgot about that! 7x42 is covered. I'd like to try to the 8x42 EDG also, currently the SF in filling that niche, I still like them too much to sell them, like your UV's.

The 8x56 SLC will definitely take care of 8x in a big way, I'd love to try one of those. Huge glass and exit pupil, would be like watching everything on a big-screen TV.

I've been getting into old porros and I compared my 7x35E's to the 7x42 EDG and I must say I barely saw a difference in the depth/stereoscopic thing. It's not a huge thing to me, they both have nice depth of field. I was expecting the 3D feel in the porros to be stronger, it was there but barely visible to my eyes. I just received a gorgeous pair of the 12x40E this morning and the 3D feel is stronger - maybe because of higher power? Or bigger objectives?

Yes, the 8x56 SLC would take care of 8x in a VERY BIG way! 🤪

I'm on safe ground, in terms of getting into porros, because in general they lack the necessary eye relief I need for comfortable viewing. I think that's a good thing! 😉

 

[Bentley03]

Sorry James.

For anyone considering the SLC please be aware I do a physical job all day at my gardening business and previous to that was a gravedigger for 6 years, just to put my lack of too many issues with the weight in context!

The other thing to consider is that you'll have a better detailed view with i.s and better low light ability and general detection of wildlife ability with a thermal monocular from pulsar etc - both could be had for less than the price of one SLC.... So if detecting and identifying birds is the goal there are more effective options. If you want the best unstabilized view of 133m of the world 8x closer though....

Will

So, Will, I scratched the SLC 8x56 itch and it went away pretty quickly. Simply, I didn't get on with them at all, and despite managing to find the ideal position for the eyecups, in terms of eye relief, there was no ignoring the amber ring around the entire FOV which the combination of me, my glasses and the binoculars generated. I'm EDGeing closer and closer to an 8x42 EDG...😏

 

[William Lewis]

So, Will, I scratched the SLC 8x56 itch and it went away pretty quickly. Simply, I didn't get on with them at all, and despite managing to find the ideal position for the eyecups, in terms of eye relief, there was no ignoring the amber ring around the entire FOV which the combination of me, my glasses and the binoculars generated. I'm EDGeing closer and closer to an 8x42 EDG...😏

Hi James. If the suit don't fit.....

Glad you got to rule them out though. Funny old game which binoculars fit people, you'd have thought (incorrectly) that the binocular with the longest eye relief would be excellent with your glasses. I suppose there's a wide range of different prescriptions and glasses types and each interacts with binoculars in a different way.

I'm EDGing closer to an edg as well at present, this one's got an 85mm objective though....

Will

 

[Bentley03]

Hi James. If the suit don't fit.....

Glad you got to rule them out though. Funny old game which binoculars fit people, you'd have thought (incorrectly) that the binocular with the longest eye relief would be excellent with your glasses. I suppose there's a wide range of different prescriptions and glasses types and each interacts with binoculars in a different way.

I'm EDGing closer to an edg as well at present, this one's got an 85mm objective though....

Will

Will, I agree, it really is a funny old game. There are binoculars I don't get on with, which on paper should be very comfortable, and others which on paper shouldn't work, but do. Thank goodness we're so spoilt for choice! 🙂

 

[Bentley03]

or add an 8x42 and a 7x42? Then you would have all three 🤔
(that‘s what I did, plus the 8x32 😄 - just love this line of binos, pity Nikon doesn‘t upgrade, the HGL is nice, but not at the same level)

Done! 😁😁😁

...or, what have I done??? 😲🫢

 

[Scott98]

Is the 8x42 on the way?? Very nice! Would be interested in the differences between the 10x and 8x. Let us know how you like them

I'm in bino-acquisition mode myself, at some point I'll have to start selling, right now I'm having fun comparing a bunch of different ones.

 

[Bentley03]

Is the 8x42 on the way?? Very nice! Would be interested in the differences between the 10x and 8x. Let us know how you like them

I'm in bino-acquisition mode myself, at some point I'll have to start selling, right now I'm having fun comparing a bunch of different ones.

I've gone (almost) the whole hog, the 8x42's arrived a couple of days ago and within minutes of getting home from their first outing I was busily ordering the 7x42's, the character of the EDG optics being different enough from an UVHD+ to not feel like I'm duplicating. Plus, I adore 7x binoculars and believe the EDG 7x42's could be as special in their own way as the 7x42 UVHD+.

My 10x42 Victory SF's funded the 10x42 EDG, my 8x32 NL's have funded the 8x42 EDG, but I'm scratching my head on what may need to be sacrificed to fund the 7x42's. I've already sacrificed the mother-in-law, so I think they may simply need to be an early birthday present to myself.

I'm not interested in the ×32's, but delighted to have bagged a copy of each of the x42's. They are a very special binocular, and to my (grotty old) eyes, have optical qualities I've not seen in other 'alpha' offerings, added to which the build quality appears to be sublime (time will tell). I have (so far) found nothing not to like about them and have fully committed myself to a life of replacing objective caps over and over and over and over again. 😉😀

Really excited to receive the 7x, even more so than the 8x and 10x...!

No side by side testing done as yet, but the view through the 8x42 has blown me away in the same way that the 10x42 did.

James

 

[William Lewis]

I've gone (almost) the whole hog, the 8x42's arrived a couple of days ago and within minutes of getting home from their first outing I was busily ordering the 7x42's, the character of the EDG optics being different enough from an UVHD+ to not feel like I'm duplicating. Plus, I adore 7x binoculars and believe the EDG 7x42's could be as special in their own way as the 7x42 UVHD+.

My 10x42 Victory SF's funded the 10x42 EDG, my 8x32 NL's have funded the 8x42 EDG, but I'm scratching my head on what may need to be sacrificed to fund the 7x42's. I've already sacrificed the mother-in-law, so I think they may simply need to be an early birthday present to myself.

I'm not interested in the ×32's, but delighted to have bagged a copy of each of the x42's. They are a very special binocular, and to my (grotty old) eyes, have optical qualities I've not seen in other 'alpha' offerings, added to which the build quality appears to be sublime (time will tell). I have (so far) found nothing not to like about them and have fully committed myself to a life of replacing objective caps over and over and over and over again. 😉😀

Really excited to receive the 7x, even more so than the 8x and 10x...!

No side by side testing done as yet, but the view through the 8x42 has blown me away in the same way that the 10x42 did.

James

Nikon do make some exceptional optics, usually at a very reasonable price - I suppose your not paying quite so much for slightly worse warranty support and servicing, but also less marketing spend from what I've seen.

A hope to purchase a Nikon monarch 60 field scope with the proceeds of selling my swaro ctc - going from 2 swarro and 1 nikon to 2 Nikon and 1 swarro..... I may regret that when/if something goes wrong!

Will

 

[Scott98]

Really excited to receive the 7x, even more so than the 8x and 10x...!

James

Congrats James, enjoy them, thanks for posting your story on these! It's funny, I had the same reaction when the 2nd pair showed up - they're addictive. You see how well the design is adapted and implemented in the 2nd size, and you inevitably start wondering about the remaining 3rd one and how nice it must be as well

The other thing I've noticed is that I enjoy using my other binoculars, mostly smaller ones, but invariably thoughts start creeping in "that was nice....but it would have been better in the EDG. Should have brought them". The others have a blurry perimeter around the FOV. It's OK, your eyes are focused on the middle and what's going on there. But having the peripheral vision focused as well adds to the comfort and luxury feeling of the FOV. It's hard to describe.

You don't actively think about the focuser, but the smoothness of it has the effect of keeping the birds in focus for longer stretches of time. So your eyes are seeing things focused in the middle and edges more of the time. The effect is stronger in the 7x with the greater DOF, your Leicas could be in trouble 😀

 

[Bentley03]

.....your Leicas could be in trouble 😀

No chance!!! 😜

 

[Bentley03]

Congrats James, enjoy them, thanks for posting your story on these! It's funny, I had the same reaction when the 2nd pair showed up - they're addictive. You see how well the design is adapted and implemented in the 2nd size, and you inevitably start wondering about the remaining 3rd one and how nice it must be as well

Thank you! 🙂

In my case, I believe it's the calmness and serenity of image which I've become (rapidly) addicted to. They have an ability to control light in extreme conditions like no other binoculars I've ever tried. Quite, quite different to my Leicas, which shout. The EDG just seems to take everything in it's stride with complete ease. I love them for that quality. But, make no mistake, I also love my Leicas for their qualities.

 

[Scott98]

The glass and coatings in the UVHD+ were impressive to me. I really like body design, especially the rubber armor. And the focuser knob is double-sized and more accessible. It's the smooth and easy EDG focuser that sold me on the Nikons. Having both 7x42's to choose from is pretty cool though, that would be the ultimate luxury. Taking some time to compare them and see the differences will be fun.

The 7x42 is the most "fun" binocular to use for me. The closer details of higher power are nice, but more tedious. Just for sheer fun-of-use with binoculars the 7x42 is tops with me. Hummingbird season on my kitchen's deck is drawing near, I'm already looking forward to daily viewing with the 7x42's instead of the 8's I used last season. I can't put my Fuschia and Torenia container plants out for another 6 or 8 weeks but I've already got the organic soil and fertilizers ready to go.

 

[brocknroller]

I forgot about that! 7x42 is covered. I'd like to try to the 8x42 EDG also, currently the SF in filling that niche, I still like them too much to sell them, like your UV's.

The 8x56 SLC will definitely take care of 8x in a big way, I'd love to try one of those. Huge glass and exit pupil, would be like watching everything on a big-screen TV.

I've been getting into old porros and I compared my 7x35E's to the 7x42 EDG and I must say I barely saw a difference in the depth/stereoscopic thing. It's not a huge thing to me, they both have nice depth of field. I was expecting the 3D feel in the porros to be stronger, it was there but barely visible to my eyes. I just received a gorgeous pair of the 12x40E this morning and the 3D feel is stronger - maybe because of higher power? Or bigger objectives?

Scott,

I have had both the 7x35 E and 12x40 E. I liked the 7x Es optics (though I would have preferrred the FMC version but they are hard to find), but I found the apparent field of view too confined (~51*, I think Henry measured it at 53*?, still rather narrowish). But I would think the 7x would offer a more 3-D view since the 3-D effect goes down as you go up in magnification. Focus speed also affects your peception of depth. I used the 12x40 for stargazing. I think the FOV was 5.5*? That would make the rough AFOV around 66*, much more "open" than the 7x35 E

Perhaps the difference you're expirencing btwn the 7x and 12x Es is the difference in apparent field of view, which is greater in the 12x E (mulitply the magnification by the TFOV). Pincushion and AMD also affect the apparent FOV but the simple formula gives you a general idea.

As to the 8x56 SLC giving you the feeling of watching everything on a big screen TV-- it probably won't. The TV screen is often used as an analogy for apparent field of view. The 8x56 SLC has around a 61* AFOV. That's a wide but not extra wide like the 8x30 and 10x35 E2s, which have a 70* AFOV--more akin to that big screen TV.

The larger exit pupil in the 8x56, 7mm, is only useful in the dark or near dark when your pupils open all the way, and that's assuming that your young enough that your pupils can open to 7mm. The last time I measured my fully opened pupil it was 5mm and that was at my eye doctor's office about 10 years ago. It's not part of my bi-yearly exam, I asked his assistant to measure it when I was getting my eyes tested. It's probably smaller now.

During the day, your pupils would be stopped down, so that you wouldn't see any brighter image than you would in an 8x32 or 8x42 depending on if the day were summer sunny or winter cloudy. So most of the time, you're lugging around a heavier bin than you need. If the 8x56 SLC has less aberrations than the 8x42, and you want the purest image possible like Henry, then that's the reason to buy the 8x56 SLC, Or if you're a hunter and hunt in the winter when light levels are low and you're hunting near dusk.

Then there's the issue of weight. Have you worked as a grave digger?

It would also work well for stargazing under dark skies, although the 10x56 would work better for that if you could hold it steady.

An 8x42 EDG would be an all around more useful bin than the 8x56 SLC. It probably has more aberations than the 56 SLC (except chromatic aberration, which it controls well, it's also very good at controlling flare, which is probably true of the 7x42 as well).

If the compressed image caused by field flatteners doesn't bother you in the 7x42, it probably wouldn't in the 8x42 EDG, but if you have the 7x42, the 8x42 would be redundant since the view is nearly the same, though the apparent field of view in the 8x42 is wider, even more open than the simple formula would indicate due to the degree of pincushion.

Very open view and plenty bright despite some saying the 8x42 EDG's view is dark. That's just when comparing it to bins that are boosted in the middle of the light spectrum. It actually has better color rendition than most of the competition, which I prefer.

Anyway, it looks like you've already have a nice stable of binoculars. Get outside and enjoy them now that we're heading towards spring!

Brock

 

[dries1]

Scott,
'
The SLC 8X56 is one special glass, as well as the other (10/15XSLC 56s). You just have to try it your self, instead of the disparaging opinions of others. Bentley03 tried them him self, so his decision is warranted.

 

[brocknroller]

Is the 8x42 on the way?? Very nice! Would be interested in the differences between the 10x and 8x. Let us know how you like them

I'm in bino-acquisition mode myself, at some point I'll have to start selling, right now I'm having fun comparing a bunch of different ones.

Did you win the lottery?

 

[Bentley03]

Scott,
'
The SLC 8X56 is one special glass, as well as the other (10/15XSLC 56s). You just have to try it your self, instead of the disparaging opinions of others. Bentley03 tried them him self, so his decision is warranted.

And just to reiterate, the issue was the combination of me, my glasses and the binoculars, not the binoculars per se, but I think I made that clear.

 

[dries1]

That was my point, you tried them yourself instead of looking at specifications.

And just to reiterate, the issue was the combination of me, my glasses and the binoculars, not the binoculars per se, but I think I made that clear.

 

[Bentley03]

So, 7x42 EDG arrived yesterday, and sadly they appear to be very slightly out of alignment. After 20 minutes of optimising IPD, eyecup position and dioptre, the muscles in my left eye were quite uncomfortably strained. Not a hint of strain or discomfort while setting up or using the 10x or 8x, but the 7x really has left my eye feeling bruised. I'm going to double check them this morning (we have snow here today!), but I'm 99% sure they'll be going back.

Sorry, I can't even post my first impressions of them.

The 8x are stunning, however. I'm as thrilled with them as I am with the 10x. I do perceive the focus wheel has a little more tension than my 10x, which I initially found moved a little too easily from the stationary. I haven't tested them side by side, but I 100% have no regrets parting with my 8x32 NL's in order to accommodate their purchase.

Big question, I think, as Brock alluded to, is whether the 8x42 or 7x42 makes the other redundant, in this range. 🤔

 

[William Lewis]

So, 7x42 EDG arrived yesterday, and sadly they appear to be very slightly out of alignment. After 20 minutes of optimising IPD, eyecup position and dioptre, the muscles in my left eye were quite uncomfortably strained. Not a hint of strain or discomfort while setting up or using the 10x or 8x, but the 7x really has left my eye feeling bruised. I'm going to double check them this morning (we have snow here today!), but I'm 99% sure they'll be going back.

Sorry, I can't even post my first impressions of them.

The 8x are stunning, however. I'm as thrilled with them as I am with the 10x. I do perceive the focus wheel has a little more tension than my 10x, which I initially found moved a little too easily from the stationary. I haven't tested them side by side, but I 100% have no regrets parting with my 8x32 NL's in order to accommodate their purchase.

Big question, I think, as Brock alluded to, is whether the 8x42 or 7x42 makes the other redundant, in this range. 🤔

Point them at a star if you get a clear night, that methods never failed me, sometimes you see 2 stars, sometimes a very long star if there out of whack.

Will